Carolina Christmas, Part 4

     

 

 

January 2

 

Ranger Will and I took off on a photo safari. Here's a copy of the relevant announcement that went out:

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Thompson
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 7:22 PM
Subject: News Release: Rangers To Explore Carolina Raptor Center
 
News Release:
 
December 31, 2003
 
It can now be reported that Ranger Steve and Ranger Will plan to explore the Carolina Raptor Center on Friday afternoon, January 2, 2004. The primary focus of this photo safari will be to document various birds of prey, including hawks, owls, and peregrine falcons. The two rangers will also be making a general survey of the local terrain around Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, including hills, ravines, and streams, as well as the Mountain Island Lake waterfront. Both Rangers will be equipped with Pentax digital cameras. Results will be posted to www.(StevenJThompson).com.

 

Ranger Will, packed and ready to go. We set off from Farmwood...

 

Out first stop was at the local Outdoor World to secure an adequate ranger vest for Ranger Will...

 

Once inside the Bass Pro Shop we began to notice strange foot prints...

 

 

We tracked the footprints through the store...

 

     

 

 

We were pleased with a considerable selection of Ranger vests to chose from. Ranger Will finally settled on a safari-tough, olive colored, 20 pocket unit. The young Ranger was quick to point out that his vest had 11 more pockets than did mine...

 

     

 

 

We proceeded on through the northwestern Mecklenburg Co. back country toward the Catawba River and Mountain Island Lake, arriving at the Carolina Raptor Center...

 

www.carolinaraptorcenter.org

 

       

 

This little gal could not keep her eyes off Ranger Will...

 

The eagle aviary...

 

     

 

 

Proceeding on...

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

 

Latta Plantation...

 

 

We hiked down to Mountain Island Lake and examined the shoreline. We looked for bobcat prints...

 

         

 

We traded with the locals...

 

 

We took our late afternoon luncheon of peanut butter & jelly, oranges, and chocolate mint late in the afternoon within a stand of hardwoods on a high ground a few hundred yards north of the Raptor Center... 

 

       

 

 

Proceeding on through the preserve, and to the road home...

 

     

 

 

We arrived safely at Hamilton Manor, where Ranger Will presented his photography from our just completed ramble. In my estimation, young Will shows great promise as a nature photographer...

 

     

 

After Will's presentation we put our sticks over the fire for the finest smores east of the Catawba River...

 

With dinner complete, the two rangers recollected their adventure...

 

Ranger Will, Firefighter Ryan, and Engineer Matt...